Captain's Report

SYLVAN MIRAGE SIGNATURE 8522By Capt. Ron SvobodaPontoon boats are relatively simple craft, yet their popularity over the last few years has exploded. Builders are adding innovative features, increasing luxury and installing high horsepower propulsion. Sylvan is one such builder and offers a wide variety of models that deliver a range of great features and attributes. The model that caught my eye is their top of the line Signature 8522. As I was standing at the edge of a dock watching the deluxe version of the 22 foot Mirage pontoon clip across the lake at an amazing speed. I said to the Sylvan rep that we need to test that boat, next thing I know we are doing hot laps around the lake in the 8522 and recording top end speeds of almost 42 mph. Pushing the 2,200 pound platform is a single Evinrude E-Tec outboard with 150 ponies of two-stroke, fuel injected fun. But the motor is not the only part of the boat that gets credit for such performance, it’s the logs. Most pontoon boats that can achieve this mark on the speedo have to use three tubes (AKA a tri-toon). But the engineers at Sylvan came up with a way to provide the necessary hydrodynamic lift required with only two tubes. All this adds up to a party platform that does more than entertain and supply space for bodies, it can pull a bevy of water toys including pulling water skiers with confidence. The absence of the third log also boils down to significant cost savings for you the consumer.This boat is not just fast, it is very luxurious. Built with premium materials and craftsmanship the Signature series is top notch. Plush lounges abound on the 8522 and all of them provide extensive storage space under the thickly padded cushions. Recessed stereo speakers and cup holders are strategically placed in the backs of the lounges, ensuring everyone is hydrated and grooving. The builder even found some room under one of the seats to install a flip-out changing compartment that can also be used with a portable toilet. The 8522 is slated as a rear-entry model which means that the stern offers a small area to board the boat from. This area is also set-up to be used as a swim platform, complete with a sturdy swim ladder that is fixed to the starboard side transom. So as if you didn’t have enough choices out there for your next boat, Sylvan only makes the decision harder by offering a machine that really seems to have it all. I’d add a grill, the full camper enclosure and then call it my second home.

Test Result Highlights

Best cruise for the Sylvan 8522 Mirage Signature (2008) is 18.4 mph (29.6 kph), and the boat gets 3.79 miles per gallon (mpg) or 1.61 kilometers per liter (kpl), giving the boat a cruising range of 82 miles (131.97 kilometers).